(12-29-2012 12:43 PM)courtjester Wrote:  CBB fan, you keep talking about recent success and winning %. Do they have equal to or slightly better success than Saint Louis, Butler, etc. Perhaps, depending on what numbers you emphasize. However, my point is that their numbers are not so much greater than the others mentioned that you can overlook WSU's public school, small market identification. I'm assuming the league won't pick members based on the last 5 years or so, and WSU success before that is irrelevant. Tournament basketball was much different then. If I am so wrong, and you are so right, we would be hearing how WSU is a slam dunk invite for the league already.

Not Butler, no. And I've never tried to say that they were a top 3 pick. If you think I'm arguing that Wichita State is a "slam-dunk" candidate, than you are misinterpreting my argument (deliberately or not).

However, they are 100% better recently than Saint Louis or Dayton. Last 5 years they are roughly equal to Creighton, and have improved every year.

If you look at my original post, I spent most of my time addressing the negatives, because my main point is that Wichita State should not be eliminated solely because of the things you mentioned. The identity of the school is not so different from the schools in the Catholic 7, and it isn't really as small market as you make it seem.

Wichita is roughly equal to Dayton is bigger than Omaha or Spokane (both considered viable candidates), and Wichita State also draws from the #3 basketball city in Kansas City (see my thread on TV rankings). Kansas in general is a very basketball-centric state, and Wichita State probably draws around the same amount of viewers as the schools in larger markers (indeed, they may attract more).

Again, my argument is not that Wichita State should automatically be included. I haven't argued that. It wasn't in my title. Attacking that argument is attacking something I have not said.

Instead, I've argued that the Catholic 7 should add exactly three schools: Xavier, Butler, and either VCU or Gonzaga. No one else makes the cut because no one else has a good enough resume (Wichita State included). Then the Catholic 7 should add the programs that perform the best over the next 2-5 years, including Wichita State if they make that cut. I've merely been arguing that the things you have been using to automatically disqualify them are not substantial enough to take them out of the consideration if their performance is good enough to justify inclusion in the league.

It's not just my argument. The fact that no one in the media, or from these universities, is mentioning WSU as a candidate, makes it more than just my argument. I could care less if WSU makes it in or not. But, if Creighton leaves, I do think WSU needs the C7 more so than the C7 needs WSU. We will see soon enough.

(12-29-2012 03:50 PM)College Basketball Fan Wrote:  I've merely been arguing that the things you have been using to automatically disqualify them are not substantial enough to take them out of the consideration if their performance is good enough to justify inclusion in the league.